My Dark Angel
Disclaimer: No ownership of Teen Titans
I dedicate this chapter to Star of Airdrie, xrobxstar, Quiet Corners, Guiding Ivory, contagiousCHRISTian, Berry Drops, Somewhere In Time and karinchanx3
Chapter 2: Retribution
Starfire fought to swallow her revulsion as she blasted Slade with her eyebeams. "You would do well to keep away from me!" The enraged Tamaranian roared. She took to the air and proceeded to unleash a torrent of star bolts that fell onto Sade. Yet he was a being who was to never to be deterred. He leaped up, dodging the falling orbs of green energy. Pushing off of a wall, Slade reached out and grabbed Starfire by the throat, slamming her into the bricks. As Starfire struggled to get away from Slade and regain her breath, she faintly registered a clicking sound.What...As her master threw her into the ground, Starfire sucked in air with a rattling gasp. She placed her fingers on her throat and felt metal. Her eyes fell onto a piece of shattered glass and saw a ring of black metal decorated with what could only be described as computerized chips. A collar?! Starfire's mind screamed.
"I am not an animal!" Starfire screamed. "It is you who is the--!" Her sentence was strangled into an abrupt hiss of pain as she felt tiny points of metal sink into her skin. There wasn't enough damage caused to cause blood to spill, but an inwardly terrified Starfire wondered what the metal would do.
She saw a control in Slade's hand and tried to formulate a plan to get the controller away from him before his finger pressed the button the first time. The look in his eye dared Starfire to make a move. She remained on the floor, one hand behind her back, letting the beginnings of a star bolt form, fueled by the righteous fury that swelled within her being. Starfire stood, hurtling the star bolt with a battle cry. The blast struck Slade in the abdomen. As he crashed into several computers, he pressed the controller's button.
Pain. Pain beyond any pain the Tamaranian could imagine. Pain that she hadn't felt in years, surged through her body, it soon crumbling to the floor. Her body convulsed as wave after wave of pain lanced through, every fiber of her being felt as if it was being ripped apart.
Throughout the building, a bloodcurdling scream could be heard.
Robin flew down the stairs, albeit with the grace of a penguin with two left feet, but that was due to his anxiety and his team knew it.
"Whoa, Robin!" Cyborg exclaimed. "Slow down man! Relax! We're gonna find her."
"I don't have time to chill or slow down Cyborg," Robin snapped.
"But you need to make time to breathe," Raven stated seriously.
"Yeah dude! She can't have a corpse rescue her!" Beast Boy exclaimed.
As the Boy Wonder gave him a wry smile, Raven quipped. "You know what a corpse is?"
"Hey, I've picked up quite a few things from Wicked Scary: Attack of the Zombie Surgeon," Beast Boy defended.
"Alright team," Robin interjected. "Cut the chit chat and return your jokes to the triple W. We've got a life to save." He got on his R-cycle and revved the engine.
"Whoa, whoa Rob," Cyborg protested. "How on Earth are we going to find Starfire?"
Robin held up a hand-held G.P.S. "I put a tracker on the mid-back of her uniform when we fought at the university." He smiled ruefully. "I guess she wanted me to find her."
Cyborg nodded and headed over to the T-car. As he opened the door, he looked at his friend and said, "Lead the way."
Nodding, Robin drove out of the garage. He felt the gentle probing on his mind signifying Raven was opening their mind link. "Remember Robin. Breathe." The empath gently reminded him.
The leader took a deep, shaky breath. Noting the shakiness of his inhale, Robin frowned. Why am I so nervous? This is a rescue mission. I'm Robin, a Teen Titan. A hero. I've saved lives before, lives of those who are close to me and those who are complete strangers. So why is it so imperative that I don't make the most miniscule of mistakes?
Um, because you're in love with her?
Robin allowed himself a small smile. You're right, I'm in love with Starfire. He felt the warmth of a rarely worn smile.
So don't choke.
Robin was about to reply when he felt a shiver rake down his spine. He gritted his teeth, hands clenching the handlebars tighter. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
He pressed down on the accelerator, leaning so far down on the bike until he almost became one with it. He heard Cyborg call out to him via communicator. "Yo Rob! You're burning rubber faster than me! I can barely see you man!"
"Something's wrong with Starfire," Robin responded. "I can sense it."
"I thought that was Raven's job, sensing those in distress," Cyborg said trying to lighten the mood.
Robin didn't respond, his gaze flickering from the road ahead of them to the G.P.S perched near the R-cycle's throttle, the scenery surrounding him blurring into a smeared work of watercolor designed by an irate artist. Within moments he came to a screeching halt in front of an abandoned warehouse, hardly hearing Beast Boy's joke about how Slade downgraded in hideouts. He unceremoniously tossed his helmet aside and raced ahead, not waiting for his team to catch up.
Breaking through the door, Robin was greeted by a series of corridors. He glanced down at the G.P.S he had snatched from the bike and started running down the northwest corridor. The beep from his communicator did not slow him down. "So, do we have a plan or should we let you rescue Juliet on your own Romeo?"
Robin sighed wearily, "Thanks for trying to lighten the situation Cy." He stopped in the middle of the hall. "I want you to try and find a back entrance, if there isn't one, make one. Raven, you take to the skies while Beast Boy, I want you to make an underground entrance. I'm sending you Starfire's location. If we can surround Slade, we'll stand a greater chance keeping Starfire safe."
Even as he spoke, Robin was skeptical about the truth of his words.
Starfire was on all fours, hair hanging limp in front of her face. She tried to calm her erratic breathing and gather her what was left of her rapidly waning energy. She desperately wanted to do nothing but collapse and sleep for a hundred years. She tried clawing at the collar still snapped around her neck. No luck.
"What's the matter slave?" Slade taunted. "Have you finally realized that you are nothing more than my puppet?"
Starfire rose, eyes blazing. "I am no one's slave!" She roared. Ripping a computer from behind her and letting it take on the green glow of her star bolts, Starfire hurled it toward Slade. Unfortunately it did not do much damage for the evil mastermind cleanly dodged it save for his uniform being singed.
He laughed, "Losing your touch are we my dear?"
Swallowing the bile that rushed into her throat, Starfire launched herself at Slade, a large star bolt in her hands at the ready. Forming a fist with the hand that was lit, she punched Slade square in the chest, a battle cry unleashed from her lips.
Slade went sailing, before crashing into a large support column, causing the ceiling to start caving in. His visible eye narrowing, he leaped up and charged toward his teenage apprentice, beginning a series of movements between the two, so careful and clean were their moves it was like a combat waltz, hard to tell who would come out victorious.
Finding an opening, Slade knocked Starfire back using a left handed upper cut. She landed with a painful grunt, inwardly cursing herself for becoming so weak. When had she exposed so much of her fear, making herself so vulnerable?
Was it when she fell, truly fell in love?
A shadow fell over her form, a black boot swiftly kicking her in the side causing her to cry out, believing one of her ribs to be broken.
Slade kicked her again, forcing her onto her back and placing his boot directly over her heart. He smirked. "How fitting, you're just like an insect."
"Starfire!"
Both villain and apprentice looked up to see Robin and the rest of the Titans standing in a hole blasted open courtesy of Cyborg's sonic cannon. Slade laughed again. "What perfect timing Robin, coming to rescue your princess? Or should I say damsel in distress?"
"Get away from her!" Robin barked.
Slade moved his foot off of Starfire's chest and dragged her up by her hair. "May I show you what this lovely addition to your lover's wardrobe can do?" He asked rhetorically, gently gliding a finger across the collar.
Robin gritted his teeth, a low growl sounding from his throat. "Don't you dare…"
"Oh I've dared," Slade said casually. "I've demonstrated to little Starfire over here what this thing can do twice. I don't think you'd like her to be demonstrated on for a third time."
"Robin," Starfire managed to whisper. "Get out of here. For all you know, this collar could wind up on your neck!"
"Hmm, that's not such a bad idea," Slade mused. "Perhaps you're not such a worthless little apprentice after all." Starfire cringed.
"Enough!" Robin snapped. He threw a birdarang, striking Slade's hand, forcing him to drop the girl. This moment prompted the Titans to attack, Cyborg charging in first and blasting Slade with his cannon while Beast Boy transformed into a tiger and swiped at the villain. Starfire took advantage of this and crawled out of the way, knowing her energy was being close to depleted. She was startled to find Robin kneeling next to her pulling out a miniature metal pick.
"Hold still," He whispered. Nodding, she froze, as if perched on a rooftop during one of her many crime sprees. Carefully, Robin picked the lock, letting the collar fall away from Starfire's throat. She smiled gratefully at him as she rubbed her throat, wincing as she noted her skin was still tender.
The two turned to the ongoing fight, Raven attempting to seal Slade away in a prison of darkness, but he knocked the empath away before she could finish saying "Metrion". As Beast Boy darted over to check on her, Robin and Starfire joined the fight.
"You know Robin," Slade hissed. "Life would be so much easier if you just gave this charade as a Teen Titan and join me. You wouldn't have to worry about Starfire for she would be at your side for always."
"I will never join you Slade!" Robin spat. "And Starfire won't be here for much longer either."
"Step aside Robin!" Starfire called out. "While I thank you for coming to my defense this is my battle! I am to fight Slade alone!"
Frowning with worry, Robin complied, just barely dodging a barrage of star bolts aimed at Slade. Through the green haze, Starfire delivered a powerhouse kick, knocking Slade's head back and sent him flying. He twisted his body and landed in a crouch. "It's good to see your moves are becoming less sloppy apprentice," Slade purred.
"I am your apprentice no longer!" Starfire yelled. She also crouched, sweeping out her leg and knocking Slade onto his back. Letting herself be swathed in emerald light, which grew with such blazing intensity, the aura was tinted with a golden hue. "This is where you meet your end Slade!"
The energy mass left her and rocketed toward Slade, enveloping him in its heated claws. He roared in pain, a long, nearly animalistic howl before collapsing to the floor, immobile. Starfire gave a weak, self-satisfied smile mixed with a hint of weariness. Yet her triumph when a look of pain crossed her own face, pain stemming from her heart and flowing outward. Her breathing came in labored, erratic gasps. She could barely feel her body crumble to the ground, her limbs seeming to be nonexistent. With a great deal of effort she placed a hand on her neck, the skin feverish. Pulling her hand away, she saw a wet, violet substance tingeing her blood. Poison.
As her eyes fluttered closed, Starfire barely registered Robin crying out her name.
Shock, confusion, and absolute terror swept through Robin as he ran over to Starfire, kneeling beside her fallen form, gently gathering her into his arms, cradling her as though she was made of pure water, one wrong movement and she would dissolve into a million beads of liquid.
Having been left to deal with Slade, Raven created tendrils of darkness that slithered around the criminal mastermind, their glow signifying that they were locked in place. Beast Boy then transformed into a pterodactyl and took Slade's limp form away heading toward the Jump City Precinct.
Meanwhile Cyborg and Raven flinched and cringed at the sound of their leader's choked sob, turning to see Starfire lying motionless in Robin's arms. The only sign of life was the ragged breaths she took, her eyes closed making her have the appearance of a princess in an enchanted slumber. Robin stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, his touch causing her to stir. "Greetings," she murmured. She hissed slightly as pain was slowly recognized by her receptors.
"Raven?" Robin asked quietly, never taking his eyes off of the girl in his arms. "Do you think you can heal her?"
"I'll heal her to the best of my abilities," Raven said as she glided over to the pair. "The rest will be up to her."
As the empath worked, Starfire gently shook Robin's arm, a lost expression on her face. "Robin? Why am I so cold? I do not understand, Tamaranians do not get cold." She whimpered as a shiver wracked her body. It was as if someone had taken the winds of winter and wrapped them around her body like an ice blanket, the cold slowly seeping through her skin and settled over her core.
Robin frowned, tightening his grip on Starfire, completely unsure of what to do. Deep within his mind, a kernel of the truth sparked. But he refused to acknowledge it. He didn't want to think that Starfire dying was a possibility.
"She's a Tamaranian Robin," Raven stated. "She needs sunlight to be completely healed."
Cyborg glanced at the digital clock built in his arm. "It's six-thirty a.m," he reported. "Sun's up. She can still be saved." Gathering Starfire in his arms, Robin raced toward the roof, praying feverishly that she would live. He wasn't ready for his angel to leave him.
As he ran, Starfire went limp, she groaned. "Slade was…right…" She whispered. "No…ap…prentice…can…surpass…him."
Robin tried to keep the mood light. Why was the journey to the rooftop endless?! He forced a chuckle. "If by surpass you mean beat, well, I did."
Starfire found the energy to raise her head and stare at him, "You did?" Her eyes were wide with wonder.
He nodded. "Mhm, and in a way, so did Terra. You as well Starfire."
She sighed. "If you say so,"
Though she could feel the sunlight that seeped in from the cracks in the crumbling hideout, her energy was still slipping, that frightening feeling that accompanied the cold was still present. Yet Starfire was also content by the fact that she was in Robin's arms. However there was still something she needed to address.
"Robin?" She whispered.
"Yeah Star?" Exhaustion was creeping into his voice and it had nothing to do with the weight he was carrying as he ran.
"Promise me….. that you will…. not forget me...but also that...you will not dwell on my passing..."
Robin fought the tears that flooded his eyes and nearly gagged on the lump that formed in his throat. "Star," he began, a hard edge to his voice. "You are not going to die."
"Perhaps you are correct," Starfire replied. Her eyes slowly closed. "But…my death is still a possibility…you cannot…shun that thought Robin…please…promise me…you won't let it…consume you either…"
Robin didn't reply right away for he saw the entrance to the roof. Carefully shifting Starfire in his arms, Robin threw a bomb at the door, blowing it outwards. He raced out onto the roof, his panic increasing twofold as he felt Starfire relax even further. He laid her down in the middle of the concrete field where she would receive the most sunlight.
For an agonizing long time as he knelt to her, her chest moved with slow, minute motions. At one point it seemed like her breathing had ceased. Robin didn't think he could take it anymore. He slumped over her form and let the tears fall, not bothering to wipe them away nor soften the sobs that wracked his chest.
"C'mon Star," Robin pleaded, voice nearly inaudible. "Please…don't give up on life. Don't…don't leave me."
Above them clouds shifted, increasing sun exposure to the world. Gradually, Starfire's breaths increased, coming in as large, ragged gasps filling her grateful lungs with fresh oxygen. The sunlight began to eradicate the pain, letting strength in.
She felt the heaviness of exhaustion lift away, leaving her feeling renewed. At the sound of her stronger breathing, Robin's head shot up. He watched her stir with bated breath.
It took Starfire a bit of effort to open her eyes, but she did so, looking into the face of Robin, tears running unchecked over his relieved smile. Managing a smile of her own, Starfire lifted her hand and began to wipe his tears away. He clasped her hand with his own, leaving it against his face.
Starfire floated up, coming to rest against his chest, his arms wrapping around his waist. Raising her head, she was able to kiss the remainder of Robin's tears away. Bending his own head, Robin captured Starfire's lips with his.
"You're okay," he whispered after pulling away. "You're okay." A chuckle escaped from his lips. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, half-laughing, half-sobbing. Starfire wrapped her arms around him, softly singing a Tamaranian lullaby dredged up from her memory. "You were wrong," Robin murmured into her neck.
Starfire frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You said you couldn't be saved. But I did save you."
She smiled. "Yes, you did."
Their tender moment was interrupted by Cyborg. "I'm guessing the little lady is alright?"
Robin nodded while Starfire looked up at the hybrid and smiled.
"That was pretty awesome, the way you attacked Slade like that," Cyborg said.
"After being under his 'apprenticeship' for so long and with you all coming to liberate me from his control it was the least I could do," Starfire replied.
"The most you could do is eat Beast Boy's tofu for a month," Raven quipped.
"Hey!" Beast Boy whom had returned from the police station protested. Then he grinned. "Actually, that wouldn't be such a bad idea."
The group laughed, Starfire included. Then she became remorseful. "You are going to take me to jail now, aren't you?" She asked quietly. The atmosphere became serious. Robin sat up, tightening his grip on Starfire. Sensing his distress, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Robin, this is for the best."
"We never said you were going to jail," Raven said. "You're not inherently evil and clearly did not want to be a part of Slade's plans. You could come with us and start over as a Titan."
Knowing that Robin would be all for it, Starfire looked to the other male Titans. "Will you accept me whom you have labeled as a criminal and villain into your home?"
"It's like Raven said, you're not inherently evil," Cyborg stated. "It's going to take some getting used to, I won't lie to you about that, but Robin told us why you worked for Slade. You were lost, hurt and he trapped you. As long as you're willing to leave the life of crime behind, I say welcome to the Teen Titans."
"Hey, as long as you're willing to eat tofu for a month, I'm in," Beast Boy joked. After receiving a slap on the back of his head from Raven, the changeling hastily added, "No seriously! I want her on the team!"
Robin stood, not giving Starfire a welcoming speech, instead he merely offered his hand to her. Starfire looked at Robin's outstretched hand, then at all of the faces of the other Titans, Though she was physically whole, her soul still harbored deep, festering wounds. These were the people she knew could help her heal and make her feel safe and loved. No longer would she be a puppet.
Starfire placed her hand in Robin's.
Ugh, I'm not sure if this is any good. I know everyone wanted me to update this, which is what I've done, but I feel like I've let you guys down. I was in an irritated state of mind when I started this. I'll leave it up and if you guys have any suggestions, don't be afraid to speak up. I might do a third chapter or a separate one shot, but that'll be it for this My Dark Angel "world."
